Fluid control device



1965 c. s. BECK 3,200,846

FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. C4o: 5. 55M

fo/vzey Aug. 17, 1965 c. s. BECK 3, 0, 6

FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (4m: J. 5CK

afforn ey United States Patent 3,2 itl,5d6 FLUKE) CQNTRQL DEVECE Ciyde3. Book, 229 Richardt Ave, Evansville, ind. Filed Feb. 15, 1962, 55st.No. 173,401 1 Claim. (ill. 137-625.,48)

The present invention relates to a fluid control device, and moreparticularly to a new and novel combination fiow-spray structure for usewith water faucets or the like.

As is known, various types of aerators have been employed heretofore tocontrol, for example, the splashing of water. The applicant herein hasinvented a new and novel combination flow-spray device which is usablewith the aforesaid aerators, or by itself, but, in any event, thepresent invention provides for the control of water in either acontinuous stream or as a spray.

Briefly, the new and novel fluid control device forming the instantinvention is defined as a structure which is readily engageable with afaucet or similar member through which water or other fluids flow, whereby simple linear action, the fluid flow can be readily changed from acontinuous stream to that of a spray, and converscly. Additionally, theinstant device permits the use of the aforementioned aerators, so thatselection can be made of either aerated water, or, as stated hereabove,water in the form of a spray.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to providea new and novel fluid control device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelcombined flow-spray structure which is readily usable with faucets orother fluid carrying members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and novelcombination flow-spray device for a fluid which, through simple linearaction, controls the form of the fluid as it is dispensed from thedevice.

A still further and more general object of the present invention is toprovide a new and novel combination flowspray device which is readilymanufactured, easily installed, and which represents a minimum ofmaintenance.

Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein l is a view invertical section, taken at line 1-1 of FIG. 2 and looking in thedirection of the arrows, showing the combination flow-spray structureforming the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the applicants new and novel flow-spraystructure;

FIG. 3 is a View in vertical section, partly fragmentary, taken at line3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, showingfurther details of the combination flow-spray structure of FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4- is a view in side elevation of the combination flow-spraystructure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section of the applicants invention,corresponding to the view of FIG. 4, showing the control lever thereforin position for spray action; and,

FIG. 6 is another view in vertical section, partly fragmentary, however,and also corresponding to the view of FIG. 4, showing the control leverfor the instant invention in position for providing a continuous streamof fluid.

F or the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention re lates.

Referring now to the figures, the applicants new and novel fluid controldevice It) comprises a body 11 having a passageway iia extendinglaterally therethrough. Disposed within and movable along the aforesaidpassageway lla is an operating or control member 12 which has apassageway 12a extending normally to its longitudinal axis. The controlmember 12 typically has a groove 12b along its outer surface, where suchgroove 12b is adapted to receive the head of a control screw 14 which isrecessed in the body 11. As will be apparent from the followingdescription, the preceding groove 12b and control screw 14 arrangementis provided to limit sliding movement of the control member 12.Additionally, washers 19 are provided at opposite ends of the controlmember 12 for purposes of fluid seal (see FIG. 4).

Extending axially through the body 11 is a passageway 15, divided intoportions 15a and 15b, where portion 15a communicates with a recess 11!)disposed at one end of the body while portion 15b communicates with arecess at the other end of the body 11. As should be evident from thefigures recess 11b has a partly threaded outer surface, while recess 110is internally threaded. In this latter connection, it should beunderstood that the internally threaded recess 110 is provided to securethe instant invention to a type of fitting (not shown) which hasexternal threads, while the threaded portion surrounding the recess 11bis adapted to receive an aerator (shown by fragmentary phantom lines inFIGS. 1, 4 and 5), if so desired.

As should be apparent from FIGS. 1 and 5, the recess 1112 at one end ofthe body 11 has an inner wall defined by a plate 16, where such plate 16is retained in position by screws 17 and 18. The plate in has an opening16a therein to provide the aioredescribed communication be tween portion15a of the passageway 15 and the recess 11b.

The body 11 also comprises other cut-out portions 2i) and 21, where theplate 16 serves as a partition to close any communication between theaforesaid cut-out portions 20 and 21 and the recess llb in the body 11.In this latter connection, downwardly and outwardly extending openings22 are provided proximate the edge wall of the cut-out portion 21, whichopenings 22 serve to provide direct communication between the cut-outportions 29 and 21 and the outside of the flow-spray structure (see alsoFIG. 4). Additionally, a passageway 24, defined by portions 24a and 24b,provides depending upon the position of the control member 12, to bediscussed herebelow, communication between the cut-out portion 21 andthe internally threaded recess 110 of the body 11 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

In use, and with particular reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the instantflow-spray device it is typically threaded onto external threads at theend of a faucet, such threaded engagement being at the internallythreaded recess lie of the body 11. If desired, an aerator is threadedonto the external threads surrounding the recess 11b. In any event, andwith fluid flow, such as water, for example, and with the control member12 in the position of FIG. 5, fluid passes through a path defined by theinternally threaded recess 11c, portion 24b of passageway 24, passageway12a in the control member 12, portion 24a of passageway 24 and into thecut-out portions 29 and 21. Thereafter, the water, or other fluid, flowcontinues through the openings 22, to thereby provide a spray effect.

As should be evident from the drawings, and as stated 3 above, the plate16 plays an important part in preventing any fluid flow into the recess1111.

When the control member 12 is moved to the position of FIG. 6, a path offluid flow is created define-d as the internal threaded recess 11c,portion 15b of passageway 15, passageway 12a in the control member 12,portion 151: of the passageway 15, the opening 16a in the plate 16, andthe recess 11b of the body ill. In other words, water flows in acontinuous stream, in contrast to the spray efrect achieved when thecontrol member 12 is in the position of FIG. 5.

From the preceding, it should be apparent that the applicant herein hasprovided a new and novel flowspray structure which simply andconveniently permits the selective control of fluid flowing therefromeither in the form of a spray or a continuous stream. The desired endresults are achieved by the liding linear movement of a control member,where such structure affords convenience in assembly as Well as aminimum of maintenance.

The flow-spray structure described hereabove is susceptible to changeswithin the spirit of the invention. For example, instead of theinternally threaded portion ills of the body 11, external threads may beprovided around the outer surface of the device in the same area tothereby permit the threading of the unit into a faucet which hasinternal threads at its end. Similarly, the recess 11b may be internallythreaded to permit the assembly of the body 11 with an aerator havingexternal threads along its upper end. Additionally, and although 39 notshown by the figures, washers, or like devices, are used in the assemblyof the structure with the faucet,

1. or water-carrying member, and with the aerator, as necessary ordesired. Thus, the above description should be considered asillustrative and not as limitin the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

A fluid control device comprising a body having a first fluid carryingpassageway extending therethrough, a separate second fluid carryingpassageway substantially parallel to said first passageway and openinginto a cutout portion disposed within said body, outlets extendingbetween said cut-out portion within said body and the outside ofsaiddevice, and a linearly slidable control member having a portion defininga fluid flow path for completing the said first or the said second fluidcarrying passageways through the selective movement of said linearlyslidable control member in a direction lateral to said first and saidsecond fluid carrying passageways.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 625,871 5/99Busha 239-552 xn 1,721,884 7/29 Robertson l376l0 XR 2,252,141 8/41Seidelet al. 137 42543 2,333,767 11/43 Davis 137625 XR 2,362,671 11/44Schwan et al. 137-609 2,474,286 6/49 Snyder 147 e10 XR FOREIGN PATENTS50,709 3/90 Germany.

LA-VERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

ISADOR WEIL, Examiner.

